Jerusalem is burning

Secular apathy led to the election of Lupolianski as mayor of Jerusalem. His term thus far has been an absolute disaster for the city and Jerusalem's financial coffers are becoming slimmer and slimmer every month. Thousands leave every year. Secular Jews leave for bedroom communities like Modi'in while the religious head for Beit Shemesh. We met some friends in a park on the border of Katamon and the German Colony and I was shocked by the filth in the park. It was really disgusting. Jerusalem has gone to shit. Municipal taxes are out of control. People can't rationalize paying absurd amount of dough for crappy services. I was surprised however to read this poll from Yerushalayim newspaper reproduced on the Arutz Sheva website.

Ninety-two percent of Hareidim questioned approve of his performance during his first year in office.

Secular approval of Lupy was 43%. 50% of those who voted for Lupolianski�s feel there is a change for the better in the capital while 5% of his voters feel things have gotten worse.

If elections were held for Jerusalem mayor today, respondents to the poll would reelect Lupolianski with 52% of the vote, followed by opposition leader Nir Barkat (38%), Yigal Amedi (3%) and undecided (7%).

If the secular public actually voted and people voted according to who can really run the city and not voting for Lupy "because he is religious and Jerusalem needs to remain holy" as stated to me by a friend. Wake up people. Jerusalem may be holy, but it's in severe debt and the non-haredi majority is getting screwed in terms of allocation of funds.

In any case, I believe I have found a solution to guarantee a Nir Barkat victory.

This Jerusalem Post story discusses a new store that sells (gasp!) pork adjacent to the Mahane Yehuda open market.

The money quote is right here:

"The Torah does not allow for a Jew to do something that endangers other Jews," yelled Aaron Abraham, a yeshiva student from Mea She'arim as policemen blocked the angry crowd from storming the storefront. "We came out here to protest this store and send Mayor [Uri] Lupolianski a message that even if he pretends to be a religious Jew we don't support him."

Couple of awesome statements in the above quote. First off, I didn't know that selling pork endangers Jews. I'll keep that in mind next time I yearn for some schweinefleisch. Second of all accusing Lupolianski of pretending to be a religious Jew is downright laughable. There are literally dozens of places that sell pork (and shellfish) in Jerusalem. Perhaps we need to make the haredi public aware of Iwo's delicatessen, his newly opened burger joint (cutely named "not for vegetarians" and the myriad of other butchers and restaurants that serve these very "dangerous" meats and sea fruits. It seems that when it comes to serving in the IDF or getting a job the haredi excuse is always that they are "learning" but why is it they always seem to have time to protest archeological digs, non-kosher restaurants, public roads open on Shabbat, offensive sculptures and places of entertainment?

I am soooo glad we moved to Modi'in. My only regret is that I won't be able to vote for Barkat in the next election.

Tags: Jerusalem, lupolianski, nir barkat